I was not supposed to go to San Antonio at all this year. Not that I was avoiding it, but my travels were taking me elsewhere. Time is limited, and all I had managed to do was drive through San Antonio on my way to other destinations. Instead, I ended up in San Antonio twice! Once in August and once in October. In August, I joined my best friend in San Antonio for a day and a half. In October, I joined my mother on a trip she had planned. Both last minute trips, but those are the best sometimes!
San Antonio has a lot to offer. I ended up staying around the River Walk mostly. Since I was just a tag along, I followed their plans. With my mom, I stayed at the Marriott overlooking the River Walk and downtown San Antonio. The patio was lovely and provided the perfect reading nook in between tourist activities. It really couldn’t have been a better view.
San Antonio is a historic city with events dating all the way back to 1536 when the river was discovered by the Spanish explorer Alvar Nuñez Cabeza de Vaca. Although, the history does not end their. San Antonio is now well known for their River Walk and The Alamo. The city has a lot more to offer, but these are the most notable features. San Antonio was founded in 1716, when the Spanish War Council approved a fort on the San Antonio river. In 1820, Americans are allowed to settle in the Spanish territory of Texas, but it isn’t until 1825 that Americans settle in San Antonio. However, in 1830, Mexico declares American immigration to Texas illegal. In 1836, the Alamo falls after Americans lay siege on the city, at which point it becomes the Republic of Texas until American annexation in 1845. Due to devastating flooding in the early twentieth century, the city of San Antonio begins petitioning for the construction of dams, which leads to the River Walk as we know it.
The River Walk is located in the center of San Antonio with downtown incorporated into the scenery. One must walk down a flight of stairs or take an elevator to get to the river because the street runs above the river walk. The River Walk is miles long with restaurants, shops, and hotels on either side. The buildings have two main entrances one at river level and one at street level. Along the river, there are bridges connecting the two sides. At street level, there are bigger bridges running over everything. Walking along the river, fountains run into the water. People are all around bustling with the happiness which comes with tourism. The River Walk would not be a lovely place to settle in for a good, quiet read, but it is a wonderful place full of photo opportunities.
When you ascend the stairs up to the street level, another equally busy scene unfolds. The streets are filled with shops geared toward tourists and San Antonians alike. Downtown is lovely.
As a non-native Texan, I had an image of the Alamo, which did not hold up when compared to reality. In my mind’s eye, the Alamo was in the middle of the country taking up an enormous amount of land because “everything’s bigger in Texas.” The Alamo is located in downtown San Antonio just across the street from the River Walk. It was as beautiful as I thought it would be, but it was far less imposing. Instead it had the quaint beauty of a small stone church, which is exactly what it was once upon a time.
I think most of us know the Alamo from the saying “Remember the Alamo,” but we don’t exactly know what that means. The Alamo is located along the San Antonio river. The land changed hands between the Spanish, Mexicans, Texans, and Americans. The Alamo started out as a church; however, it quickly transitioned into a military garrison because of it’s strategic position. “Remember the Alamo” was the battle cry during the fight for independence from Mexico, which came to the Republic of Texas in 1836. There you go!
The Alamo is gorgeous and historical. The gardens are beautiful. It was an incredibly hot day in the beginning of October when I visited. It was around 96 degrees Fahrenheit, but inside the stone walls making up the church it was incredibly cool. No wonder ye people of olden days built everything with stone: kept the heat at bay. The Alamo, though beautiful, is not an ideal place to read. Tons of great reading nooks, but the people are overwhelmingly everywhere.
Over all, San Antonio is a great place to visit, but if you’re looking to get some reading done, book a hotel with a patio overlooking the River Walk.
